Fly-catching device.



No. 663,550. Patented Dec. ll, I900. H. MOSS.

FLY CATCHING DEVICE.

(Application filed Dec. 28, 1899.; N o M o d e I J WITNESSES.-

ATENT HENRY MOSS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FLY=CATCH|NG DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 663,550, dated December 11, 1900.

Application filed December 28, 1899. Serial No. 741.780. (No model.)

To whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY Moss, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, and a resident of New York city, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fly-Catching Devices, of which the following is'a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part thereof, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to improvements in insect-traps of the class adapted especially for catching flies by adhesion; and the object thereof is to provide a durable and inexpensive article of this character which embodies a box of sticky paste and means comprising a coil of tape for distributing the same, the whole structure being such that it can be readily handled without the necessity of directly handling the sticky paste forming part thereof.

The invention will be hereinafter fully described, and specifically set forth in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of myimproved fly-trap. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device having its lid removed, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation taken on the line mm of Fig. 2.

In the practice of my invention I employ, primarily, a preferably circular wooden box A and a countersunk lid B; but I do not confine myself to the specific structure of the box nor to its contour. Through the side of the box A, I place a slit a, which acts as a means for discharging the tape 0. This tape is normally coiled around a pin D, which is arranged eccentrically Within the box A, whereby a considerable space is left for receiving the sticky paste E. I may use any paste of a sufficiently sticky nature to catch insects-such, for instance, as a mixture of bird-lime and resin; but I do not confine myself to any specific composition.

Upon the outer end of the tape 0 is a loop 0, which acts as a handle to be employed in feeding the tape outwardly. This loop is normally extended outside of the box, as indicated by Fig. 2 of the drawings, and it never comes in contact with the sticky paste, whereby the device can be readily handled. In use this said loop can be employed as a means for suspending the device from a nail or hook in such a manner that the part of the tape containing the sticky substance will not contact with anything.

The operation of the device is obvious. When it is desired to employ the tape as a means for catching flies, it is simply necessary to pull the tape outwardly to any desired length, and then place the device in any suitable place where it can be arranged not to come in direct contact with surrounding objects. This affords a large area for the flies to alight on, and the sticky nature of the paste acts as a means for preventing accidental uncoiling of the tape.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, in a fly-trap, of a cylindrical case, and a coil of tape wound upon a pin, located eccentrically within said case, with a filling of sticky composition placed within said case, and arranged to coat one side of said tape while being withdrawn from said case, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 7

2. As a new article of manufacture, a flytrap comprising a cylindrical case, perforated with a slit in the side thereof, a coil of tape wound on a pin eccentrically located in said case, and arranged so that one end thereof will protrude from said case through said slit, and a composition of sticky material placed in said box and arranged so that it will come into contact with and coat one side of said tape, while the same is being withdrawn from said case, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 16th day'of December, 1899.

HENRY MOSS. lrVitnesses:

M. G. MACLEAN, GEO. E. BARRETT. 

